The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-09-09
The First Book Printed in English North
America

Books and papers are SO plentiful
that many Of our readers seldom think
about the time when neither were
printed in America. And how incon-
veniept il would be, IL we, like some of
the old settlers, were limited to one
book in colony. Yet, we are inform.
ed that this book was so well read that
all the childred could read.
Two hundred and forty-nipe years
ago Q63S), an enthusiastic Puritan
raised money by subscription in Hol-
land and England to purchase a print
ing machine for British North Amer
ica. As soon as the machine was pro-
cured, this reverend gentleman, Mr..
Jesse Glover, in company with his
wife and Stephen Daye, a printer, got
sail for the land much in need of books.
Glover died before reaching the cont.
nent, but his widow set up the machine
in Cambridge. In 1859, Daye printed
the Freedman's Oath and an "Alma-
naok' for New England, The next
year the "psalter" was printed. Its
title was "The whole Book of Psalms
Faithfully translated into English
Metre" Whereunto is pre6xed dis
conrse declaring not only the lawful
ness, but also the necessity of "Heav.
enly Ordinance of Singing Scripture
Psalms in the Churches of God" Such
was the title given TO the noted "Bay
Psalm Book" Richard Mather, Rev.
Thomas Weld, Rev. John Elliot and
others contributed separate divisions
of the translation. The book was a
small 8vo of 295 unnumbered pages,
1t contained much bad print and plenty
of bad paper. The preface covered
twelve pages. An extract of the 1873
psalm will give an idea of its crude
form.
"How good and sweet to see,
Its for brethren to dwell
Together in unitee:
It's like choice ayle that fell,
The head upon,
That down did flow
The beard unto,
Beard Aaron"
Not all were as unpublished as this,
bnt none received master finish.
There are few copies of the first edi-
ton, and these have a commercial val
ne of $1,000; or, even more. One copy
is in the library of the American Anti
quarian Society at Worcester. Two
copies of the Prince collection are in
the Boston public library. One of the
last named copies belonged to Richard
Mather, and afterwards, was the pro-
perty of his son Increase. This copy
with four others was deposited by
Prince in the Old South Church. 1t
was from the Mather book that DR..
Shurtleff made an exact reprint of II
copies. This reprint copy sells from
$50 to S1O0. Another copy of the
original is said to be in possession of
George Livermore's widow. Cornelius
Vanderbilt purchased a copy for
$1,000. He had it elegantly bound
and enclosed in morocco case.
A second edition was made in 1647.
OF this, the only known copy belongs
to Mr.. Harris Of Providence He gave
S435 for it. The Dunster revision,
printed by Samuel Green, was made in
1850. 1t contained an edition 46 pages,
and many corrections. There may
have been so editions of this revision.
Thomas Price made a revision which
was printed in 1853. You may Judge
from the following stanza the value of
Prices revision.
20, blessed man walk not in
The counsel of i'll men,
Nor stands within the sinners ways;
Nor scoffer's seats sit ~"
John Elliot added the Psalm Book
to his Indian Testament In 1861, en-.
titled, "Wsme ketoo homae Uketoo-
homaongash David III.